Parents Get Crash Course on Facebook

Parents Get Crash 
Course on Facebook:

Ann Marie Brucia provides 

intro at Fairfield’s Main Library

(Posted to Fairfield.Patch.com 2/7)

By Mike Lauterborn

© 2011. All Rights Reserved.

2/7/11

Fairfield, CT – Feeds. Pokes. Chats. IM’s. DM’s. For the social media savvy, these terms are as familiar as their personal profiles. But for newcomers, this is a foreign language that begs translation.

Fortunately, Fairfielder Ann Marie Brucia was on hand at Fairfield’s Main Library early Monday evening to shed some light and provide an overview of Facebook, the world’s largest social media network. Her hour-long presentation, titled “Facebook for Parents: What You Need to Know”, included tips, etiquette, privacy guidelines and cautionary advice, and was enjoyed by over 35 area attendees.

A blogger, mother of three and owner of New Media Brain, a social media marketing consultancy, Brucia has become a foremost expert on social media and has been sharing her knowledge through a series of monthly talks that kicked off January 10 and will conclude April 12.

“I launched New Media Brain as a blog five years ago,” said Brucia, “as I was re-entering the work force after being home with my kids for 10 or 12 years. Prior to that, I held corporate marketing roles for two large companies and worked for 10 years in product marketing, both in Chicago and overseas. I decided I wanted to work for myself, taking my traditional skills and merging them with the changing landscape of marketing. This was 2005, just a year after Facebook launched and just before Twitter started. Blogs and social media were exploding.”

Brucia quickly got up to speed on the new technologies. “I actually used social media to educate myself. I went to social media conferences and found webcasts online. Then I took my learning out to my clients – a variety of different sized businesses from start-ups to Fortune 500. I continue to educate myself as the landscape is constantly changing.”

In planning her library series of talks, the social media guru felt that Facebook, with over 500 million users as of December 2010, deserved its own session as it’s such a big part of the social networking world.

Brucia’s goal is simple. “I want to arm parents with information to create a safe environment for their families. To that regard, I’ve been working with two beneficial groups – Common Sense Media, a non-profit that does all types of media evaluation for parents and schools, and ConnectSafely.org, which provided a bound copy of “A Parents Guide to Facebook” for my first 50 talk registrants. The book literally walks parents through account and privacy settings and usage guidelines.”

In her view, Brucia senses there’s a lot of fear and misinformation out there about social media. “I think if people took a different perspective of embracing, they would find the tools very useful. The sheer number of people using Facebook warrants our attention, particularly given the number of teens using the medium.”

It had gotten Fairfielder John DeMassa’s attention. The 49-year-old was curious to know more with regard to a new business enterprise. “I just started a school, New England School of Theology, based in Fairfield. I’m looking at Facebook as a way to mass promote my business. This talk will give me a better understanding of the audience. I’m part of the social networking clueless.”

DeMassa’s wife Grace, who had accompanied him to the talk, was more in the know. “I’m already on Facebook, but I want to learn more about privacy issues. I just want to look out for my family, especially with regard to nieces and nephews who are on it and put a lot of info up. I follow their daily lives through Facebook and just want to know who else may be viewing.”

Fairfielder Fernanda Casey was looking out for her two boys, ages 13 and 14. “They are not on Facebook right now but I want to learn about the basics should we decide to allow them on it in a year or two. I feel like a dinosaur.”

In her talk, Brucia said Facebook can be very empowering. “It is essentially an online publishing tool. Every time we make a comment, we’re publishing. We are producers as powerful as big news organizations.”

Brucia also said it can be a fun place for children. “It can be a diary, playground, photo album, game room, email portal, blog and more. Everything is starting to happen inside Facebook, which is why it’s such a part of many people’s lives.”

But, Brucia cautions, “We need to realize that this is permanent. What we put up doesn’t go away. It all leaves a digital footprint.”

Privacy and the settings users engage to control who sees their content is also key. Brucia says Facebook is pretty responsible about this aspect. “The site allows you to control how much information you display. It’s up to you how open or closed you want to make it.”

Mainly, Brucia advises, “Be a good digital citizen, think before you publish and post with a purpose.”

For more information and to register for upcoming presentations, call the Children’s Library at 203-256-3161.

"The Guy Show" Exhibit Scores Fans

“The Guy Show” Exhibit Scores Fans:

Artplace Gallery opening debuts the work of regional male artists

(Posted to Fairfield.Patch.com 2/6)

By Mike Lauterborn

© 2011. All Rights Reserved.

2/6/11

Fairfield, CT – It seemed appropriate that the opening reception for a new Artplace Gallery exhibit titled “The Guy Show” should fall on the same day as one of America’s biggest machismo contests, the Super Bowl. The gathering even offered the type of snacks and an elevated level of excitement that one might find at a football event.

But the attention Sunday afternoon at the 11 Unquowa Road space was not on pigskins but the work of ten regional male artists from Fairfield and New Haven counties. Featured were painters Chris Durante, Chris Joy, Zachary Keeting, Felandus Thames and Jonathan Winters; photographers Keith Johnson and Jeremy Keats Saladyga; sculptors Joseph Saccio and Silas Finch; and constructionist Joseph Fucigna.

“The gallery is a cooperative with 23 members all sharing in the expense and decision-making of the venue,” said the exhibit’s curator Gerald Saladyga. “Twenty-one of the 23 members are women and, as such, the shows here have been women-dominated. I suggested an all-male format for a change, to which the group positively responded.”

Saladyga said all the artists are known to him, that he admired and respected their work and that there is a good mix of new and established talent. He added that the show helps close a divide between artists in each county. “I’ve sensed that there’s a Great Wall of China between Fairfield and New Haven counties. Artists from each region have not really interacted with each other. This provides a platform for them to do that.”

The intimacy of the Artplace space allowed viewers to focus in on the art and connect with its subject matter, of which Kevin Stevens and Lolly Renault of Stratford were taking total advantage. “We go to a lot of the shows here,” said Renault. “The male-oriented format is refreshing. I’m seeing some really good work.”

Fellow show attendee Bill Adams, who has been a long-time fan of Artplace, agreed. “The guy-orientation of the art drew me here. The show is proving to be very unique.”

Attendee Miggs Burroughs from Westport, a photographer/graphic artist himself, was busy enjoying the work and getting inspired. “I’m not a formally trained photographer so it’s great to get stimulation from other creative minds that are edgier than mine. I like to absorb anything visual. We’re all perpetual students.”

Tom Danis, 26, of Stamford, and Supriya Gundewar, 23, of Norwalk, who admitted to being inexperienced about viewing art, were fascinated with the works of Finch and Jeremy Solaydyga. “I wouldn’t normally go to a gallery on my own. It’s nice that they have forums like this,” said Gundewar.

For the artists’ part, they were glad to have the attention and provided background on their artwork. “I’ve been painting seriously since I was 18, working in mixed media,” said Chris Joy, 36. “I have three oil paintings in the show, which have magic marker and pencil designs as the understructure. My goal was to personalize abstraction and use odd shapes that move away from the typical rectangular painting shape.”

Joy, who is also the co-founder of the website www.GorkysGranddaughter.com, which features studio interviews with local artists (including several featured in “The Guy Show”), added, “The show heightens particular aspects of all our work. My floral-based paintings suddenly stand out in a guy-oriented format.”

Silas Finch, who described himself as less a sculptor and more of a “Found Object Assemblage” artist, said he gets inspiration from a variety of areas. “I browse flea markets and people’s basements, and get items from family and friends. I like to make a natural union between two contrasting items, like airships that are childlike but that have macabre elements.”

Finch’s reference was to his work “U.S.S. Imminent”, a Zeppelin-like construction that he had wrapped with the dramatic front page of a circa WWII newspaper.  

“This show is a little more cutting edge for Fairfield,” summed up curator Solaydyga, “touching on political, environmental and racial identity themes. Of course, it does this while also being aesthetically pleasing.”

“The Guy Show” runs through Feb. 26. For more information, call the Artplace Gallery at 203-292-8328.

They Were ‘Freezin’ for a Reason’

They Were ‘Freezin’ for a Reason’:

Over 90 people take an icy dip to raise funds for Burroughs Ctr.

(Posted to Fairfield.Patch.com 2/5)

By Mike Lauterborn

© 2010. All rights reserved.

2/5/11

Fairfield, CT – Air temperature: 34 degrees. Water temperature: 33 degrees. A snow covered beach. Light drizzle. Gray skies. The perfect environment, one would argue, for an event called “Freezin’ for a Reason.”

The fourth annual plunge into Long Island Sound drew over 90 participants late Saturday morning, who were expected to raise about $50,000 to help fund after-school programs offered by Bridgeport’s Burroughs Community Center. The plunge took place near the pavilion at Jennings Beach and drew an equal number of friends, family and passersby who came to offer support -- or just look on in disbelief.

Leonela Cruz, a part-time staff member at Burroughs, was an early arrival who came to ensure that a path had been cleared to the water and the plunge site was accessible. “I actually did the plunge last year,” she said. “It was exciting, and the first time I ever did it. The adrenaline was kicking. The event has attracted mostly adults, but this year we thought it would be good to have kids from our after-school program participate, too.”

Cruz explained that the program serves about 45 children from families in the greater Bridgeport area that are experiencing financial difficulties. It offers homework help, computers, gameplay, fitness, a mother-daughter club, art classes and sports. Funds would help purchase materials like backpacks, notebooks and art supplies.

“We raised about $60,000 last year,” Cruz said, “and as of pre-registration this morning, we were at $43,000.”

Kevin Simmons, Burrough’s Executive Director, spoke on how the event first came about. “I kicked the idea around for five years before voicing it at a committee meeting,” he said. “A board member replied, ‘Kevin, I have no doubt you’ll find enough crazy people to do this. I will not be one of them.’ Now with this year’s event, we’ll have raised over $200,000.”

Simmons said a number of elected officials were participating, whose support he appreciated. “Congressman Jim Himes has done this for the past three years. It’s nice to have someone of his stature here. We also have Mayor Finch, Tom McCarthy (president of the Bridgeport City Council) and council members Marty McCarthy and Sue Brannelly.”

Cruz noted that weather conditions were noticeably different this year. “Last year, it was all sand here, no snow. A few days ago, we had a crew come over to clear ice away from the plunge area so participants can actually go in.”

Wardell Hairston, a volunteer at Burroughs, was busy salting a path to the water. He was also a plunger. “It’s warmer than last year and there’s no wind. You just hit the water quick and come out. That’s it. You don’t stay in there,” he chuckled.

Spectators and family preceded the arrival of participants. Among them was Weston’s Candace Debarger whose son, Sky, 14, was plunging. Debarger had an armful of clothing for Sky to change into. “I’m proud of him. This is a great way to raise money.” With regard to the cold water, she added, “He’ll be fine. He’s 14. They bounce back.”

Van Kolton of Fairfield was another supporter and carried a boxful of items for his wife and son. “I’ve brought warm water, towels, hot chocolate and even flowers,” he said. “I think what they’re doing is awesome. Everything we can do to contribute to the community is what it’s all about.”

Kolton’s wife, Linda, and son, Ethan, 9, soon appeared, arriving in one of two buses that were used to transport participants from Burroughs, where they had all met up to sign in and get a wristband and “plunger bag.”  

“As a Black Rock business owner, I wanted to support the community,” said Linda Kolton. “This is the first time I’m doing this. It seemed like a good idea when I signed up… I’m not so sure now,” she chuckled, surveying the icy water.

In contrast, plunger Mark Adintori, 49, was shirtless and gung-ho, ready to go. “I’ve been doing this since the beginning. The first year, I had just had bicep surgery and had a plastic bag over my arm, as it was in a brace. I really don’t mind this. I’m acclimated to the cold. I’m outside all the time.”

Participants followed the salted path down to the shore, stood in a line at the water’s edge and, at the sound of a horn, dashed into and quickly out of the water. Only a hardy few lingered for any period of time, daring the elements.

“I was very freezing,” said Anastasia Rivera, 15, from Bridgeport, emerging from the water. “There was a rush of adrenaline. I want to do it again now.”

Allie Muolo from Bridgeport missed the initial horn but made it in. “It was freezing. Bringing hot water in a bottle was a good idea,” she said.

Congressman Himes, who plunged with his daughters Emma, 11, and Linley, 8, said, “The water was mind altering. This year the challenge was not getting in the water, but getting to the water. But it’s all to benefit a spectacular community program.” 

CT Audubon Society Toplines Its 2011 State of the Birds Report

CT Audubon Society Toplines 
Its 2011 State of the Birds Report:

Forest birds in permanent decline 

due to hard development

(Posted to Fairfield.Patch.com 2/5)

By Mike Lauterborn

© 2011. All Rights Reserved.

2/4/11

Fairfield, CT – Milan Bull, Senior Director of Science and Conservation for the Connecticut Audubon Society, has been sounding the alarm for years now that, due to hard development, our state’s forests and forest bird populations are in permanent decline.

This is the topline message of the Society’s 2011 State of the Birds Report, a brief preview of which Bull was to present at the Birdcraft Museum on Saturday, Feb. 5. The presentation, which was to have been given to Society members, was cancelled in advance of a winter storm that was expected to deposit a snow/sleet mix in the area throughout the day Saturday. The complete report will be released during the last week of February at a press conference to be held at the state’s legislative office building in Hartford. 

Interviewed by phone late Friday afternoon, Bull gave some background about the report and expanded on its key message.

“Our annual reports were instituted to provide members and the public with an idea of how the state’s birds are faring,” explained Bull. “Our first report six years ago showed that 50% of the state’s birds were declining. The significance of this finding impacts everyone in the state, whether you’re a fan of birds or not. Birds, which inhabit all of the state’s various habitats – forests, salt marshes, inland wetlands, lakes, grasslands -- are a key indicator of environmental quality. They are literally our canary in the coalmine. That finding confirmed the importance our of work to monitor bird populations and environmental conditions.”

Since that first report, the Society has studied the various habitats to understand why the birds there are declining, and to make recommendations on how to conserve both the habitats and bird populations.

Bull said that they have been successful in getting the state legislature to look at and try to improve how the state acquires conservation land. “For instance, we recommended that the state develop a registry of protected lands in Connecticut, to determine how much land is protected, if it protects the bird species we need to protect and where the land is located,” he said. “Then we can identify and prioritize critical land and habitats that need to be acquired and protected. That’s been the thrust of our recommendations these past years.”

This year’s report, though, is focused on conserving our forest birds. To get a perspective on how this particular population has changed, Bull provided a quick history lesson.

“Early colonists made the first dent in native bird populations, removing trees for agricultural reasons, fuel and to build their houses – what we call soft development,” Bull explained. “This changed the type of local birds from forest birds to more grass and shrub land birds. With the arrival of the Industrial Revolution, farmers moved west or into the cities and abandoned their farms. The trees grew back and the forest birds returned.”

What the state has experienced in the last 20 years or more is what Bull calls hard development, which is having a permanent effect on forest bird populations. “The forests have been in decline without regeneration due to the construction of big box stores, roads and power lines,” he said. “Fragmentation and parcelization is reducing our forests into smaller and smaller blocks that can no longer support productive populations of forest dependent birds.”

Bull said this is a definite concern and that the report makes suggestions on how to protect and conserve our forests, with the goal of improving our economy and quality of life while preserving the unique character of our New England landscape.

Student Exhibition Opens to Rave Reviews

Student Exhibition Opens to Rave Reviews:

Fairfield Museum debuts 

‘Our Nation’s Generations’

(Posted to Fairfield.Patch.com 2/4)

By Mike Lauterborn

© 2011. All Rights Reserved.

2/3/11

Fairfield, CT – Normally a fairly tranquil place, the venue echoed with excited chatter, laughter and chirpy shouts, much like the halls of a busy elementary school. As such, it was no surprise to find a pack of bubbly fifth graders at the heart of the din, celebrating themselves and their achievements.

The setting early Thursday evening was the Fairfield Museum and History Center on Beach Road and the fifth graders, 21 students in all, were from the New Beginnings Family Academy of Bridgeport. The students, several teachers, school administrators, museum personnel and a number of parents had all come together for the opening reception of “Our Nation’s Generations”, a new student exhibition featuring a mixed media story quilt, personal artifacts and writings that explore the broad and modern view of family. Also introduced were narrative quilts and illustrations by celebrated artist Faith Ringgold that served as inspiration for the project.

“We’ve been doing outreach programs for the past two years at the museum, working closely with teachers at a lot of different area schools,” said Christine Jewell, the museum’s director of educational programs. “Programs have often related to family and family history, which allows children to explore and connect with the past and make it relevant to their lives today. We’ve also been focused on identifying particular objects like family heirlooms and artifacts that tell stories. In planning an exhibit for Black History Month, we wanted to keep the family orientation and object focus. But rather than focus on ancestors, we wanted to focus on present-day family members or friends that are role models.”

Jewell worked with faculty at New Beginnings to create a student-developed exhibit that showcases work reflecting and capturing the relationship they have with the role models. “They interviewed them, identified objects that connected to that person then created central quilt squares that represent that individual,” said Jewell.

The squares were integrated into one overall class quilt which is now displayed alongside select family artifacts, the students’ essays about their role models, framed illustrations from Faith Ringgold’s children’s books and two of her quilts, respectively titled “Tar Beach” and “My Ancestors.”

“New Beginnings is all about getting kids to think about their future and own abilities, and confidence to believe in themselves,” said Ronelle Swagerty, from the school’s development office. “One student’s thought for an object was her mother’s high school diploma, which was a great achievement in her eyes.”

“My inspiration was my older brother Marcus,” said student Jaleah Bennett, 10. “In times when he has struggled, he has always managed to get through. When I have problems, I think about that and it helps me.”

Bennett’s essay about her brother hung in a frame above a glass display case that contained some of his personal items including a baseball trophy, an athletic shoe, his honor roll certificate and the crown he wore as king of his senior prom.

“My mom is my role model,” said Bennett’s classmate Eyga Williamson, 10. “In a bad predicament, she taught me that everything is going to be o.k. If we’re having trouble, she tells us not to hold our feelings inside and to express ourselves.”

Williamson’s mother, Lakesha Jackson, was honored by the tribute. “It makes me feel very proud. I work hard to be a good example to my children. I always try to encourage them to push themselves to the limit.”

“This is really exciting,” said student Imani Williams. “We worked really hard on this. It’s amazing to see our artwork in a museum.” 

William’s pal Imani Hall noted the educational aspect of the project. “Faith Ringgold taught us how to show our feelings about who we’re writing about. We read her poetry and it helped us write our own pieces of work.”

For Christine Listorti, executive assistant to Paul Whyte, New Beginnings’ principal, the exhibit recalled moments from her past. “These quilts bring back memories of my childhood and my grandparents making quilts in the big room at home with neighbors.”

Both faculty and museum staff made a few remarks at the reception, including Principal Whyte, who noted, “Demographics is not destiny,” and the school’s art teacher, Jennifer Strausser, who said the children “really rose to the challenge and worked together” given the compressed time the class had because of the holidays and all the recent snow days.

As Christine Jewell ushered Eyga Williamson to a podium to read her essay aloud, she asked the bright student how she felt about this special evening. “I feel like a celebrity!” the girl replied.

“Our Nation’s Generations” exhibit will run through March 6. For more information, visit www.fairfieldhs.org

Snow-Melting Latin Rhythms Engage WAC Crowd

Snow-Melting Latin Rhythms Engage WAC Crowd:

Afro Cuban jazz great Arturo O’Farrill provides hands-on demo

(Ran as a full page in Westport News 2/4)

By Mike Lauterborn

© 2011. All Rights Reserved.

1/30/11

Westport, CT – Though recent heavy snowfalls had cooled Westport’s spirits, the hot Latin rhythms that Arturo O’Farrill banged out on a recent Sunday afternoon did much to reignite them.

The pianist, composer, educator and winner of the 2003 Latin Jazz USA Outstanding Achievement Award made an appearance at the Westport Arts Center at 51 Riverside Avenue Jan. 30 to present “Bang on a Drum: Latin Rhythms for Kids” program. The presentation was an introduction for children and their families to Latin rhythms and beats, featuring hands-on demonstrations and education.

“I thought this season we would do world music styles and that it would be great for the community to hear one of the world’s greatest Afro Cuban jazz musicians,” said Brian Torff, Westport Arts Center’s artistic director for jazz. “We always do at least one educational program a year. It’s important to introduce children to the profound value of music to our lives.”

Torff and O’Farrill have a long-standing connection. “I’m a bass player and have performed with Arturo,” said Torff. “We’ve known each other at least 10 years. We spoke about this a year ago and he was very enthusiastic about providing music education.”

To that regard, O’Farrill said, “I founded a non-profit called the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance, which is dead serious about music education. We have residencies in New York City public schools where we actually give students instruments and small group instruction. We send master musicians into the field to teach them how to play. The kids may not realize they’re working with internationally famous musicians. Performing is teaching and teaching is living, and without it you’re winging it.”

O’Farrill has also served on the faculty at S.U.N.Y. Purchase and the University of Massachusetts and has taught everyone from nursery school students to doctoral candidates.

As a performer, Mexican-born, New York City bred O’Farrill created the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra at Lincoln Center and produced a debut album, “Una Noche Inolvidable”, which earned a 2006 Grammy Award. A follow-up album with the Orchestra, “Song for Chico”, earned a 2008 Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album.

Adults and children alike were excited to be in O’Farrill’s company. “There aren’t many live music experiences that you can expose children to that are age appropriate,” said Norwalk resident Susan Blazer, attending with grandson Logan, 4.

Westonite Candace Halpern, onsite with her husband Jeff and son Alexander, 6, said Westport friends, who knew that Alex is very interested in music, invited them. “He’s been studying the piano for a year and a half. I love the up-close, personal and interactive nature of this event.”

Employing a host of percussion tools including metal shakers, clave sticks, congas, guiros, fuche cabasas, sticks and beaters, O’Farrill engaged the crowd with both his personable style but also a step-by-step educational approach.

“Pretend you’re in Puerto Rico and it’s 90 degrees outside and you’ve got your toes in the sand,” the performer said, demonstrating how to strike a conga with both the fleshy part and heel of his hand. “Open, heel, toe, snap,” he called out. Youngsters in the group mimicked his actions.

“Let’s move our bodies,” O’Farrill added, introducing movement to complement the rhythms. “You’ve got to have fun.”

With the audience’s collaboration, O’Farrill gradually built what he called a “Mambo Lasagna” comprised of instruments, sounds and clapping he termed “ingredients”. It was a hot meal to be sure that sated the appetite of attendees, smiles spreading across their faces.

Fairfield Families Developing Cabin Fever

Fairfield Families
Developing Cabin Fever:

Parents and kids endure
another snow day

(Posted to Fairfield.Patch.com 2/1)

By Mike Lauterborn

© 2011. All Rights Reserved.

2/1/11

Fairfield, CT – An early morning weather system deposited another couple of inches of snow and threatened icing conditions later in the day Tuesday, forcing the closure of town schools. The cancellation surprised many Fairfield parents and disappointed children who have developed a case of cabin fever with all their days off.

“I think some of the snow days have been reasonable, but today we could have had school,” said Harry Murphy, 15, a Fairfield Ludlowe High School sophomore. “I was surprised school was canceled, but I was ok with it as I got to sleep late. I’m just hanging out for the afternoon as my mom has work. My sisters have been playing a lot in the snow. My brother and I will probably need to do some shoveling at some point. Snow is nice to have on the ground, but not the ice and sleet. It can be dangerous, especially for drivers.”

For Pam Murphy, the day created some challenges and unrest at home. “Cole (Murphy’s 14-year-old son) is doing some drawing and Sam (16) just got up, showered and plopped down in front of the TV. He started complaining when I asked him to shovel the back deck. I’d seen a report that it can separate from the house and collapse under all the snow and ice and I thought it would be an effective use of his free time. After all, he does live here. He didn’t agree. We’re scheduled to get Cole’s braces off today, and then hair appointments up in Ridgefield. I’m debating doing the latter given the icy roads.”

Up on Woods End Road, Ann Kubel was just trying to keep it together with a house full of rugrats. “I’m sick of the snow and I’d rather the kids were in school. The house is filled with not only my own kids but also the neighbor kids. This is the house to be at apparently. They go out, get soaking wet, the clothes go in the dryer, they go back out again, they’re on the Wii screaming. It’s a madhouse. Now I’m feeding everybody lunch and they’ve asked for cookies. I’ll do that then I’m done!”

Kubel added, “The way Fairfield has been calling things, I knew it would be no school or nothing versus a delay, as it was going to be an early dismissal day anyhow due to professional development. Personally, as I have to be home with them, I’m catching up on some house chores that I needed to do. That’s the only good thing about this situation. And it looks like I’ll be doing it tomorrow, too.”

In the Beach Area, Maryann Dolzani was multi-tasking, juggling mom and work tasks. “I’m home but working from home. Elliot (her 9-year-old son) is at a neighbor’s house and Spencer (6) has a buddy over playing. Seeing that the snow stopped and there’s not much going on, I was surprised school was called. The forecast had predicted more of an event though, so I understand why they called it. I feel bad for the kids. It’s fun to be off but I think they miss some of the school activities.”

Benny Ortiz, 7, was happy to be off but running out of things to do. “I have another day off. I’m getting kind of tired of it. I want to get school over with. I just went over to my grandpa’s house, now I’m playing with my little toy.”

Benny’s mom, Pam, who was home from work to watch Benny, was more concerned about how her son’s vacation days were being whittled down. “What’s unnerving to me is the school’s plan to start taking spring vacation days away. I really think they should take the days from the February vacation. I think we should be able to vote on it. I’d rather have the time off when the weather is good. The kids are really getting behind on instructional time this winter. It’s a lot to try and make up for.”